Open relationship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An open relationship denotes a relationship (often between two people) in which the participants are free to have sexual intercourse with other partners. If the couple making this agreement are married, it is an open marriage.
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[edit] Polyamory
While "open relationship" is sometimes used as a synonym for "polyamory" or "polyamorous relationship", these terms are generally differentiated. The "open" in "open relationship" usually refers to the sexual aspect of a non-closed relationship, whereas "polyamory" refers to the extension of a relationship by allowing bonds to form (which may be sexual or otherwise) as additional long term relationships.
However, there is enough overlap between the two concepts that 'open relationship' is sometimes used as a catch-all substitute when speaking to people who may not be familiar with 'polyamory'.
Some social networking sites, including Facebook and Orkut allow users to set their relationship statuses to in an open relationship.
[edit] Types of open relationships
- Some relationships place strict restrictions on partners (e.g. polyfidelity); such relationships are polyamorous, but not open.
- Some relationships permit sex outside the primary relationship, but not love (e.g. swinging); such relationships are open, but not polyamorous.
- Some polyamorists do not accept the dichotomies of "in a relationship/not in a relationship" and "partners/not partners"; without these divisions, it is meaningless to class a relationship as 'open' and 'closed'.
- Some polyamorists consider 'polyamory' to be their philosophical orientation — they believe themselves capable and desirous of multiple loves — whereas 'open relationship' is used as a logistical description: that is, it is how their polyamory is expressed or implemented. They would say of themselves, for instance, "I am polyamorous; my primary partner and I have an open relationship (with the following ground rules)...."
[edit] Open relationships in popular culture
The Canadian rapper Abdominal has a song called "Open Relationship" on his album Escape from the Pigeon Hole about engaging in an open relationship. British rapper The Streets references an open relationship in the song "Dry Your Eyes" on his album A Grand Don't Come for Free. Popular sex educator Tristan Taormino is also an advocate of open relationships.
[edit] References to open relationships in the media
[edit] Articles
- Models of Open Relationships
- Closeness in Open Relationships - Does It Work?
- Open relationships demystified
[edit] Books
- Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships
- Redefining Our Relationships: Guidelines For Responsible Open Relationships
